The University of Illinois Fighting Illini (7-4, 4-4 Big 10) and Northwestern University Wildcats (1-10, 1-7 Big 10) face off Saturday at Ryan Field for their regular season finales. The Fighting Illini are 14.5-point favorites, and the total is 38.
Illinois is coming off a close 19-17 loss against No. 3 Michigan at Michigan Stadium last Saturday, their third straight defeat. Tommy DeVito threw for 178 yards. Chase Brown ran 29 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Casey Washington caught six passes for 53 yards.
Northwestern dropped a 10th straight game last Saturday, falling 17-9 to Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium. Cole Freeman was 9 of 20 for 78 yards and an interception. Evan Hull carried 22 times for 105 yards and a touchdown.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Fighting Illini won the only game between the teams last season, a 47-14 victory in November. Brandon Peters threw one touchdown for Illinois, as Chase Brown added a rushing TD and Isaiah Williams scored once through the air.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Fighting Illini are averaging 24.0 points per game for the season, 92nd in FBS, and they are facing a Wildcats defense that has surrendered 27.2 PPG (76th). Meanwhile, Northwestern has scored 14.7 points a game this season, 128th in the nation, and Illinois is allowing 13.1 PPG (3rd).
The Fighting Illini rank 91st in the nation in passing yards per game (214.9) and 49th in rushing (180.3). They will be facing a tough test through the air, as the Wildcats are 17th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (187.7). Against the run, Northwestern is 116th (194.6).
Northwestern is 92nd in the nation in passing yards per game (214.3) and 103rd in rushing (122.5). Illinois’ defense has proven stout on both fronts, as the Fighting Illini are 7th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (165.3) and 7th against the run (93.4).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through 11 games, Tommy DeVito has thrown for 15 touchdowns (3 INT) and 205.5 yards per game to lead Illinois in passing. In four away games this season, he has four TDs (1 INT) and an average of 189.0 yards passing. Chase Brown leads the team in rushing with an average of 143.8 yards a game over 11 games.
He has nine touchdowns on the ground and two through the air. Isaiah Williams is the Fighting Illini’s leading receiver with 52.6 yards a game and five TDs.
Ryan Hilinski has six passing touchdowns (7 INT) with 205.5 yards per game through eight games to lead Northwestern. In six home games this season, he has thrown for five TDs (5 INT) and an average of 227.7 yards.
Evan Hull has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 78.2 yards a game through 11 games. He also has been valuable as a receiver, accumulating 46.6 yards a game through the air. He has seven total touchdowns, five rushing and two receiving. Malik Washington has been the primary target in the Wildcats’ passing game. He has one touchdown and a 58.0 yard per game average through 11 appearances.
HOME AND AWAY
Northwestern has dropped five straight at home this season.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
Illinois -14.5 (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
